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A Moment of Heartbreak

I have a Facebook page called 365 Days and Counting. That is where I share thoughts and insights. When I first started Conversations Around the Tree it was intended to be an off-shoot of my Facebook page. But instead it became something totally different. I found a love for photography and fiction and general creativity. So instead of sharing my daily experiences and thoughts I shared my creativity.

Today I wrote a post that is very appropriate for my Facebook page. However, after posting it on 365, I decided it is a message that I want to share in a bigger venue. So I am bringing it to you….my blogging community….

His little brown eyes gazed at me. The look on his little face so innocent. Did he know what was happening? Was he asking for help? Or did he just feel smashed by his brothers and sisters that were twisted and crammed into the small kennel.

The little brown eyes belonged to a puppy being turned into the Humane Society. He was one of six. His mom was in a separate kennel. She was being turned in too. Did she know what was happening to her babies? Did she know what would happen to her?

I was in line, waiting to get information for one of my clients. I watched the babies get carried to the back, then their mom. The Humane Society employee returned the dilapidated kennel to the man that abandoned the puppies. I wanted to rip the kennel out of his hand and yell at him. I wanted to tell him he didn’t deserve to get the kennel back because he would just use it to turn in more defenseless dogs.

I was still in line when the man left the shelter. I was behind another man that was turning his dog in because the dog had gotten out 3 times. I listened to the worker explain that the shelter was over capacity and then she told him it was likely the dog would be euthanized immediately. She suggested he try to return the dog to the place he got it. He left with the dog. The dog was going to live another day…but the man was angry. He wanted someone to fix his problem. Maybe he wanted someone to fix his dog.

Just as it became my turn a plastic cat carrier fell off a chair. The kennel flipped over and landed on the hard floor. The owner started laughing. As the kennel was righted the cat inside it looked confused and stressed.

More people walked through the door. More dogs were carried through the door. More people gave up on their pets.

I really don’t know the solution. There will always be irresponsible pet owners. But I do have a plea….if you own a pet, please have them spayed or neutered. If you have room in your heart and in your home, please go to your local shelter and adopt a pet.

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8 thoughts on “A Moment of Heartbreak”

It’s so awful isn’t it? I know a girl who is strapped all the time for money- lives hand to mouth and is always on the verge of being homeless. But she will starve before her pets will and as long as she has breath, her pets will have a home. And then there are people turning in pets without a backward glance. I don’t get it.

It doesn’t make sense does it?
I got to be friends with a guy last summer that is homeless and he has a dog Missy. Same thing….Missy is always well cared for. He never stays in a shelter because Missy can’t. Currently he is living in a tent….with Missy by his side!
Thanks Sue for sharing your thoughts

Of course I don’t actually *like* this post at all … I felt my blood pressure start to rise the deeper I got into your story.
I have a friend who used to be a vet. Yes – I used the past tense. She walked away from her profession – one she spent years of training on – because of people like the ones you described above.
Her stories about the insensivity of people, stupidity, meanness, and even sense of entitlement were appalling. She loves animals – but hated their humans with a passion and found she could no longer do her job.
These people who work in shelters and vet clinics are stressed to the max … trying to save the helpless while dealing with the ignorance and pettiness of humans.
How we treat animals says a lot about the person we are.
Sorry for this very long comment.

Thank you for the long comment. I’m sorry the animals lost a good person (vet). But I understand.
I have no idea how people watch this lack of compassion every day. 10 – 15 minutes and I wanted to either cry or punch someone.

Even worse, I heard stories of the staff being verbally abused because free treatment wasn’t being provided for whatever problem the animal had … ie they expected to get their pet back after free treatment.